A strong start for circular battery innovation in Europe

Circular battery innovation takes center stage with the official launch of CIRCUBATT, a Horizon Europe project aiming to revolutionize battery reuse and recycling. On January 16–17, 2025, the University of Greenwich in London hosted the kickoff of this three-year initiative focused on building a sustainable battery value chain and supporting Europe’s clean industry transformation.

The project brings together 10 partners from 7 countries, combining expertise in battery technology, recycling processes, AI-driven analysis, and sustainable design.

Highlights from the kick-off meeting

The two-day event brought together researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to define the project’s roadmap and collaborative goals. Key outcomes included:

• Alignment on technical milestones and deliverables

• Identification of challenges in battery reuse, recycling, and second life

• Creation of a collaborative framework for knowledge exchange across work packages

This foundational meeting marked the beginning of a coordinated European effort to tackle one of the most urgent challenges in the clean energy transition: making batteries truly circular.

Why CIRCUBATT matters

Lithium-ion batteries are essential for Europe’s transition to renewable energy and electric mobility—but current systems are resource-intensive, hard to recycle, and often waste critical raw materials.

CIRCUBATT aims to:

• Improve battery design to enhance reuse and recyclability

• Enable AI-powered aging prediction to extend battery life

• Develop efficient recycling processes that recover valuable materials

• Promote second-life applications for used batteries

Through this work, CIRCUBATT directly supports EU initiatives like the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Battery Regulation (EU/2023/1542).

Looking ahead: A 3-year roadmap for impact

As CIRCUBATT moves forward, the project will:

• Pilot technologies in real-world environments

• Share results with stakeholders across academia, industry, and policy

• Contribute to EU targets for clean industry, emissions reduction, and resource efficiency

Stay tuned for updates as we follow CIRCUBATT’s progress in shaping the future of sustainable battery systems in Europe. Follow us on LinkedIn!